Russell Brand and Katy Perry have become engaged during a romantic holiday.

The 34-year-old comedian, who grew up in Grays, is said to have proposed during a spiritual ceremony in India on New Year’s Eve, and the relationship was blessed by a “love guru”.

A brief statement from Brand’s publicists said: “We can confirm Russell Brand and Katy Perry are engaged.”

The Sun newspaper said it had also received a text confirming the engagement from Brand, who said: “It’s true. Much love.”

Brand and the I Kissed A Girl singer, 25, have been celebrating their happy news in Thailand.

In November, Perry said the couple had “a special thing” that they wanted to keep away from the media spotlight.

“The wonderful thing is we both have our own kind of separate talents, careers and lives and we really respect each other,” she told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat.

She was not surprised by the attention their relationship had received.

“We both equally get our fair share, so if you put the two of us together then maybe it will multiply.”